Quirky mature teen, loves to read and used to write book reviews for the school newspaper...Reviews books now for her own pleasure and will in the future "become a bestselling, award-winning teen author"-->According to Coe Booth, author of Tyrell.

Reading Slump: A period when no book, of any genre, seems appealing enough to read. When one knows that picking up a book will only end with reader hating the book for no rhyme or reason.

I would like to say that I tried beating the slump again and again and again. In the end I failed. For the past three weeks, I have tried to pick up various books gotten 40 pages into it and given up for numerous reasons. Annoying mc, disgusting setting, scenario is implausible. You name it. When I reached the 8th book, I realized I had to stop or the poor books would start hating me. (Yes, I think that books are human beings and have feelings. Yes, that sounds insane. I know.)

I could feel them starting to look at me with sad little eyes and implore me to stop. I gave up. I tried to read other genres. Same result. I had many friends suggest books- books that they’d recently read and LOVED and they kept badgering me to read it. But honestly, I knew the minute I started reading it I would hate it. So for now, I’ve decided to catch up on reviews and stop reading anything new. This should help me catch up to everyone else.

I also would like to add that I sympathize with every writer out there who has ever experienced writer’s block. If it’s anything like the slump I’m in, I feel your pain. It is killing me inside that I am in such a position where I want to read a book but nothing is working for me. Until I find that phenomenally mind-blowing book I am going to be stuck in this rut. I just hope it ends sometime soon.

But, I also decided to write this post and at the end of my brainstorming session I ended up asking myself the question a lot of us (bloggers), authors, and other kidlit-ish people have been asking.

Why do I read YA?

Here’s a little conversation I had with myself following the moment said question popped up in my head. (Please don't judge)

9 comments:

Oh no! Book slumps are horrible, horrible things. I hope you find that awesome book and get out of it soon.

I read YA because even though I am not a teen, YA books look at issues that are relevant to my life (whatever my age!) and deals with them in such clever and wonderful ways. I find it more literary, closer to real life, and relate to it more than I do chick lit or women's fiction, or even some literary fiction. I love how some YA authors are taking on great subjects like GLBT rights, anorexia, self-harming, rape, and more. Basically, I read it because it is awesome.

I hope my reasons help you think of some great reasons, or you can just borrow mine :D

I agree with Melina - switch it up! When I have those slumps I take a refresh with MG books, or the latest issue of the New Yorker, or an adult book. That's one of the reason's I have a non-YA book club!

This may sound terrible, but one reason I read YA is because it is easy to read. I know, I know YA deals with deep issues and can be as thought-provoking as Shakespeare. But while I can fly through YA books in one sitting, my brain has to slow down to take in Shakespeare. And I love a quick, easy read from time to time.

I think reading slumps are normal. There are weeks when the idea of reading makes me a little queasy and when I can't seem to summon interest in anything. Thankfully, the slumps aren't frequent and they never last.

I hate slumps. They happen to me a lot when I'm reading a book that just isn't as good as I hoped it would be and then I just don't want to read it but I don't want to stop reading it and I have nothing around that would make it better.